By John F. McKenna (McJack): You can expect things to get heated at pre-fight press conferences. After all, the press conferences are held for the purpose of hyping fights. Therefore no one is surprised when the fighters or their entourages begin engaging in trash talk or talking smack and hurling insults at each other.
Fans love it and promoters are delighted when the future combatants go at it, as long as things do not get out of hand.
So it was predictable when things heated up a bit at the pre-fight press conference for the match between former WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan (26-2, 18 KO’s) and undefeated WBC light welterweight champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (23-0, 14 KO’s). Khan and Garcia will clash on July 14 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Khan lost his WBA and IBF titles last December in a highly controversial decision to Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) in Washington, D.C. A rematch between Khan and Peterson was canceled when it was revealed that Peterson had tested positive for testosterone on two separate occasions. One of the samples tested was prior to the match in which Khan lost his titles to Peterson.
In most cases when things heat up at a pre-fight press conference it is the fighters themselves who become involved in hurling the verbal barbs at each other. No so in the Khan – Garcia presser. This time it was Angel Garcia, Danny’s father and trainer, who began the verbal fireworks. Angel was quoted by PhilBoxing.com saying the following:
“First of all we are having a good camp. Khan is an overrated fighter. When Danny starts hitting you what are you going to do 1-2 and roll out all night? Come on man you’re overrated.”
His son was a lot more respectful of Khan saying:
“July 14 is going to be a great night. Khan is a great fighter. You haven’t seen the best of me. I want to defend my title and July 14 I will still be the champion.”
When Khan arose to the podium to speak he asked the elder Garcia if he would still be overrated when he defeated his son. Angel attempted to interrupt Amir as he was speaking but, was shut down by the Khan entourage.
Khan, the 2004 Silver medalist at the Athens Olympics concluded his remarks by saying that he wished his father would be taking the punches that his son would endure in their July 14 fight.
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